Control means



Oct. 31, i939. R. s. SANFORD CONTROL MEANS Filed Sept. 17, 1934 2Sheets-Sheet 1 NVENTOR ATTGRI Oct. 31, ni939. R s SANFQRD 2,177,748

CONTROL MEANS Filed Sept. 17, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 TTORNEY Patented ct.31A,

UNITED STATES FATENT OFFICE 8 Claims.

This invention relates to electrical devices and more particularly toelectrically operated directional signal apparatus adapted for use onautomotive vehicles.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a noveldirectional signal system for vehicles whereby a signal may be energizedby manual means and continue in operation for a predetermined time aftersaid manual means are released.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel switch means forcontrolling the ilow of current in an electric circuit in apredetermined manner.

Another object is to provide novel switch means in combination with thesteering mechanism. a vehicle for controlling a system of directionalsignals.

ri further object is to provide a novel method of operating adirectional signal system for vehicles.

The above and further objects and novel features of this invention willappear more fully in the following detailed description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings. It is to be expresslyunderstood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose ofillustration only and/are not designed as a deiinition of the limits ofthe invention, reference being had primarily to the appended claims `forthis purpose.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to like partsthroughout the several views:

Fig. l is a diagrammatic view of a directional signal system embodyingthis invention, one form of novel relay switch being shown in elevation,partly in section and with parts broken away;

Fig, 2 is a side elevation, partly in section end with parts brokenaway, illustrating one form of novel switch mechanism constituting apart of the present invention;

Fig. 3 is a section taken on line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a section taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 5 is a section taken on line 5*-5 of Fig. 2.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. l, the noveldirectional signal system comprises a novel manually operable switch I0to be hereinafter described in detail, in combination with steeringwheel II, a battery I2, front and rear signal light assemblies I3 and I4respectively, and a pilot light assembly I5.

Preferably, the system also includes novel means whereby a turn signalmaybe energized Aat a time prior to theexecution of a turn and (Cl. 20o-97) remain energized for a predetermined interval Without further efforton the part of the operatcr, thus rendering it possible to forewarnother traflic of an intended turn while assuring the deenergization ofthe signal after making the turn without in any way detracting from theoperators control ci the vehicle. In the form shown, such means areconstituted by a novel relay switch mechanism connected in circuitbetween switch IU and signal light assemblies I3, I4, the samecomprising a pair of housing or casing members I6 and I6 secured to oneanother by means of bolts Il. In the adjacent, enlarged ends of saidcasings are mounted a pair of coils i8 and i8 having hollow centersequal in diameter to the reduced cylindrical portions I9, I9 of casingit, It. The cylindrical portions I9, Iii are preferably iilled with asuitable liquid such as oil. Slidabiy mounted within solenoids I8, I8 isan armature or plunger 20 which also extends into and engages the innerwalls of cylinders I9, I9. Suitable terminals 2I are provided for coilsI 8, I8 whereby the same are connected in independent circuits withbattery I2 and switch I@ by means of leads 22, 22 and 23, 23', coil I8controlling the right and coil I 8 the left turn signals.

Core 20 is provided with a central bore 24 which is closed at each endby threaded plugs 25 to form a closed cylinder which is lled with asuitable liquid. A floating plunger or piston valve 26 is adapted toreciprocate within said bore, the same being normally held in a centrall position therein by suitable resilient means such, as springs 2'I, 2linterposed between plugs 25 and the opposite ends of valve plunger 2G.Core 20 is in turn held in a central position in casing I5, I6' by apair of springs 28, 28. The reciprocating movement of piston 2&3 in core2B is limited by stops formed integrally with plugs 25, said stops inthe form shown being formed by inwardly extending and eccentricallydisposed pins 29. A central longitudinal passage 25a is provided inpiston 26 to provide i'or the flow therethrough of the oil in cylinder24, 2li.

A pair of diametrically disposed passages 3Q and 3D are formed in thewalls of core 2D, the same extending longitudinally from opposite endsof said core and turning inwardly to communicate with valve cylinder 24at the center thereof. The flow of liquid through passage 3Q, so iscontrolled by piston valve Z6 which is provided with a shallow,centrally placed, annular groove 3| and a pair of similar but largergrooves 32 and 32 adjacent the ends thereof.

In the outer end of cylinder I9 there is provided a flanged, cup-shapedmember 33 adapted to be held in place by a cap 34 threaded onto saidcylinder, member 33 being insulated from said cap and the casing bymeans of a washer 35 and a hanged sleeve 36. One end of spring 28 restsagainst the inner end of cylinder 33, the latter being insulated fromsaid spring by a washer 31 which is also adapted to position the spring.A plunger 38, constituting a movable contact member, is slidably mountedin cylinder 33 and extends inwardly into cylinder I9, the inwardmovement of plunger 38 being limited by the engagement of a flange 39thereon with the end wall of cylinder 33. A spring 40 is provided fornormally holding said contact plunger in the position shown in Fig. 1. Alongitudinal passage through the center of plunger 38 and a pair ofradial passages provides means of communication between cylinders 33 andI9.

The outer end of spring 40 seats against the inner end of a terminal rod4|, the same constituting an electrical connection between said terminaland Contact plunger 38. Terminal post 4| is supported in a centralopening through cap 34, said post being insulated therefrom by a washer42 and a suitable bushing 43. Terminal 4I is electrically connected bymeans of lead 44 to both the front and rear right turn signal lamps 45and 46, The left-hand end of the relay switch assembly is identical withthe right-hand end thereof described above, except that the terminalpost 4|' is connected by lead 44'to the left turn signal lamps 41 and48. Each of the lamps is provided with a ground connection not shown inthe drawings to complete the circuit through battery I2, one terminal ofwhich is also connected to ground.

Preferably, terminal post 4| has a passage 49 therein through which asuitable liquid, such as oil or glycerin, may be injected into thecasing, a nut 5D being provided on the outer end of said post to sealsaid passage. To avoid air bubbles within the casing, nuts 5l) and 50'may be removed, whereupon the liquid may be pumped through the casing.Nut is then replaced and the casing turned on its end, as nut 50 isthreaded in place, any air therein escaping through a radial passagetherein, the conical outer end of member 4I fitting into the conicalseat in nut 50 to eliminate an air pocket.

As heretofore pointed out, the signal system provided by this inventionalso includes novel switch means for the manual energization of thesignals through the relay switch above described, whereby said signalswill remain in operation for a predetermined interval after release ofsaid manual means. Such means, as shown, are so constructed, incombination with the steering Wheel of the vehicle on which the systemis installed, that the driver may at will energize either set of signalsirrespective of the position of the steering wheel and without removingeither hand therefrom, the driver being free to give his undividedattention to the control of the vehicle, and not being under thenecessity of reaching for a switch on the dash or steering column.

In the form shown in Fig. 2, the fixed contacts of switch IU are mountedon a housing 5I surrounding steering column 52, and spaced therefrom asby means of a sleeve Sla. Said fixed contacts are constituted by a pairof metallic strips 53 and 54 extending longitudinally of steering column52 on opposite sides thereof and are preferably moulded into the wallsof a cylindrical member made of insulating material such as Bakelite,which member is supported on housing 5| by means of an internal shoulder56 which engages the upper end of said housing. The upper, outside edgesof contacts 53 and 54 are not insulated, and the lower ends thereof areconnected to solenoid coils IB and I8 respectively by means of leads 23and 23.

The movable contact member of switch I0 is constituted by the annularmetallic hub portion 51 of steering wheel II, which latter is mounted onthe upper reduced end portion of steering column 52, being held thereonby a nut 58. The central opening in hub 51 is hyperbolic or similarthereto in cross-section to permit of a lateral tilting movement ofwheel II, the smallest diameter being only slightly greater than that ofthe reduced portion of the steering column. The extreme lower portion ofhub 51 is hollowed out to a diameter somewhat greater than the outsidediameter of the upper end of member 55, which extends into said hub, andthe lower annular end 51a of said hub is adapted to be tilted intoengagement with contact 53 or contact 54.

Wheel II is normally held in a horizontal position relative to column 52and hub 51 is held out of engagement with contacts 53 and 54 by means ofa coil spring 59 interposed between hub 51 and a shoulder formed onsteering column 52. A leaf spring 60, inserted in longitudinal slots inhub 51 and column 52, absorbs any undesirable lateral movement orrattling of wheel II.

Turning movement of wheel |I may be transmitted to hub 51 by anysuitable means, such as suitably covered metal spokes 6| operativelyconnected to said Wheel in the usual manner. Such movement is in turntransmitted to column 52 for turning the front wheels of the vehiclethrough the medium of a ball 62. The latter is maintained in a radialopening E3 in hub 51 by a plug 64, a portion of said ball extending intoa groove 65 having a semioircular cross-section in shaft 52.

In operation, the driver, when approaching a turn to the right, forexample, need only tilt the steering wheel to the right against thepressure of spring 59, thus bringing the lower edge 51a of hub 51 intoContact with the exposed upper end of contact strip 53. A circuit isthereby closed from battery I2 through lead 22, coil I8, lead 23, strip53, hub 51, shaft 52 and ground. The electromagnetic forces set up bythe energization of solenoid IB tend to move plunger 20 and valve 26, asviewed in Fig. 1, to the right. The movement of plunger 20 is at firstresisted by spring 28 and the fluid in cylinder I9, the only passage forsaid fluid to permit such movement being via restricted groove 3| onvalve 26. Said valve, being resisted only by spring 21, quickly moves tothe right against stop 29, bringing large groove 32 into register withpassages 30 and 30' to permit a relatively free flow of liquid fromcylinder I9 to cylinder I9. Plunger 20 now moves more rapidly to theright, together with valve 26, into engagement with contact plunger 38,the latter being moved against the pressure of spring 40 until the outerend thereof contacts terminal post 4|, the above action taking placealmost instantaneously upon the contacting of hub 51 with strip 53.

The engagement of plungers 20, 25 and 38 closes a second circuit frombattery I2 through lead 66, casing I6, plungers 2|) and 38, spring 40,post 4|, lead 44, right turn signal lamps 45 7u and46 and ground. Assoonas the driver releases the pressure onv the right-hand side of wheelIl and the contact at 53, l is broken, current ceases to ilow in coilI8, whereupon valve 26 is immediately returned by spring 21 to a centralposition in chamber 24 again bringing restricted groove v3l intoregister with passages l3l) and 3D', thusrestricting the flow of fluidfrom cylinder I9 to cylinder I9. Plungers 20 and 38 are thus restrainedto move slowly to the left toward neutral position under the action ofsprings 28 and 40, the rate depending upon the size of groove 3l. Thecircuit through the signal lamps is thus maintained until movement ofcontact 33 is arrested by ilange 39 encountering the end of cylinder 33and plunger 20 is moved out of engagement therewith by spring 28. Due tothe arrangement of the springs, and the passages in member 38, thelatter moves out of engagement with member 4l before plunger 20 movesout oi engagement with member 38. Until the latter movement occurs, thecircuit is maintained by spring 40. The signals will thus be energizedupon the tilting of the steering wheel and remain in operation for apredetermined interval after contact at the steering wheel is broken,the interval being determined by the size of groove 3l in valve 23 andthe viscosity of the iluid employed.

When the driver wishes to signify his intention to turn left, he needonly press down on the left side of wheel Il, thereby closing a circuitthrough coil i8. The action of the relay switch is the same as abovedescribed, except that the parts move to the left instead of to theright. The pilot lights l5 indicate the condition of operation of theright and left hand circuits.

There is thus provided a novel directional signal system for automotivevehicles embodying novel manual and automatic switch means, whereby asignal may be energized to indicate an intention on the part of thedriver to make a turn at any desired interval prior to the actualturning movement, said signal being automatically rie-energized after apredetermined interval. There is also provided novel switch means incombination with the steering mechanism of a vehicle whereby an electriccircuit may be closed without in any way disturbing the drivers grip onthe steering wheel. Novel automatic, fluid controlled relay switch meansare also provided for determining the interval of operation of saidsignals after release of the initiating switch. Mentally, the driver isthus concerned only with initiating the signal whenever he desires tomake a turn, and physically, he need not for a single instant divert hisefforts from the normal control of the vehicle.

Although only one embodiment of this invention has been illustrated anddescribed, it is to be expressly understood that the same is not limitedthereto, but that various changes may be made without departing from thespirit of the invention. For example, a gaseous fluid as well as aliquid may be employed in the novel relay unit for controlling the speedof movement of the parts. Other types of electrical relays may beemployed if desired, and 'the relay of the present invention may be usedin other environments. 'Ihe steering wheel switch may be employed tocontrol other accessories, such as a horn, etc. Various changes may alsobe made in the design and arrangement of parts illustrated, as will nowbe apparent to those skilled in the art. Reference will be had primarilyto the appended claims for a definition of the limits of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In apparatus of the class described, a casing, a liquid coniinedtherein, a hollow plunger in said casing having a liquid passagetherethrough, resilient means for yieldingly holding said plungeragainst movement in either direction in said casing, a piston valve insaid plunger for controlling liquid flow through said passage, resilientmeans for yieldingly holding said valve in position to restrict saidflow, and electromagnetic means for moving said plunger against theefforts of said first-named resilient means and for moving said valverelative to the plunger to permit increased iluid ilow through saidpassage.

2. In apparatus of the class described, a cas ing, a iiuid therein, aplunger operable in said casing and having a fluid passage therethrough,a movable contact member in said. casing, resilient means for normallyholding said plunger and member in predetermined positions, means formoving said plunger into engagement with said contact and compressingsaid resilient means, and valve means in said plunger for controllingfluid ow through said passage, said valve being adapted to restrict flowthrough said passage when said plunger and contact are released by saidsecond-named means for movement by said resilient means.

3. In apparatus oi the class described, a casing, a fluid in saidcasing, a plunger in said casing having a fluid passage therethrough,resilient means normally resisting movement of said plunger in eitherdirection, a valve in said plunger for controlling fluid flow throughSaid passage, resilient means for normally resisting movement of saidvalve in either direction, and common electro-magnetic means foractuating said plunger in said casing and for actuating saidI valverelative to said plunger.

4. In apparatus of the class described, a casing, fluid in said casing,a plunger in said casing with a fluid passage therethrough, a valve insaid plunger for controlling the iiuid flow through said passage, aconnection to said plunger from a source of electric energy, electricalcontacts adjacent each end of said plunger, magnetic means for movingsaid plunger into electrical engagement with either of said contacts,resilient means for returning said plunger to neutral position uponrelease by said magnetic means, the return movement thereof beingcontrolled by the rate of uid flow through said passage.

5. A two-way make and break switch comprising a casing, a plunger insaid casing, a connection from a source of electrical energy to saidplunger, contacts disposed on either side of `and electrically insulatedfrom said' plunger, resilient means for holding said contacts in apredetermined position, magnetic means for moving said plunger intoelectrical engagement with either of said contacts and compressing theresilient means associated with the engaged contact, and other resilientmeans for returning said plunger to neutral position when the same isreleased by said magnetic means, said iirst-named resilient meansmaintaining said contact in engagement with the moving plunger for apredetermined period after release of the latter by said magnetic means.

6. A make and break switch comprising a casing, a fluid therein, ahollow plunger in said casing having a fluid passage therethrough, aconnection from a source of electrical energy to said plunger, a valvein said plunger for controlling the uid flow through said passage,electric contacts yieldingly held in a predetermined position relativeto the easing by resilient means and adapted to be selectively engagedby said plunger, resilient means yieldingly opposing movement of saidplunger in either direction toward said contacts, and other resilientmeans opposing movement of said valve in either direction.

'7. In apparatus of the class described, a casing, a uid therein, ahollow plunger in said casing having a uid passage therethrough, aconnection from a source of electrical energy to said plunger, a valvein said plunger, a pair of electric contacts, resilient means forholding said contacts in a predetermined position relative to saidplunger, resilient means yieldingly opposing movement of said plunger ineither direction, resilient means opposing the movement of said valve ineither direction, and common electromagnetic means for moving saidplunger into electrical engagement with either of said contacts tocompress said first-named" resilient means and for moving said valverelative to said plunger to control the flow of fluid through saidpassage.

8. In apparatus of the class described, a casing, resilient contacts ineach end thereof, huid in said casing, a plunger in said casing having afluid passage therethrough, a source of electric energy electricallyconnected to said plunger, valve means in said plunger for controllingthe flow of fluid through said passage, magnetic means for electricallyengaging said plunger with either of said contacts, and resilient meansfor opposing the engaging movement of said plunger and for returning thesame to neutral position upon release by said magnetic means, said valvemeans restricting said uid passage to retard said return movement andsaid engaged resilient contact remaining in electric engagement withsaid plunger for a predetermined period.

ROY S. SANFORD.

